Gallagher Shiraz 2013 $30 Gallagher vineyard, Murrumbateman, Canberra District NSW Canberra’s perfect vintage conditions in 2013 produced a great number of really outstanding shirazes across the district, including Gallagher – a gold medallist at the 2014 regional wine show. The best show greater richness and ripeness of fruit and tannin than normal, while retaining their … Continue reading Wine review – Gallagher, Mount Pleasant, Leo Buring, Schmolzer and Brown, Hardys →

Majella Coonawarra Sparkling Shiraz 2008 $30–$35 At the 2014 Limestone Coast Wine Show, Chinese judge Fongyee Walker awarded her International Judge’s Trophy to Majella sparkling shiraz. ABC Rural quoted Ms Walker, “It is the one wine of the whole set [of 418 wines] that I could safely give to every single person in China and … Continue reading Wine review – Majella, Oxford Landing Estates and Peter Lehmann →

Jacob’s Creek Barossa Pearl $12–$15 In his 1992 book The Grapes of Ralph, UK cartoonist Ralph Steadman sketched a matronly, imaginary “Barossa Pearl” presiding over a Barossa soup kitchen. Alas, Orlando Barossa Pearl – once fruity, sweet, vibrant and sparkling – had popped her last bubbles nine years earlier, in 1983. Today’s wine industry owes … Continue reading Wine review – Jacob’s Creek, Majella and Leo Buring →

John Duval Wines Entity Shiraz 2012 $40.85–$50 Krondorf, Greenock and Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia Former Grange makers John Duval sources fruit for Entity from the Krondorf and Greenock sub-regions of the Barossa Valley and a portion from the elevated, cooler Eden Valley to the east. The combination yields a vibrant shiraz in the generous, … Continue reading Wine review – John Duval, Red Knot, Andrew Thomas, Ulithorne, Mount Majura and Lark Hill →

Heggies Vineyard Eden Valley Chardonnay 2012 $21.85–$$30 The Eden Valley sits on the Mount Lofty Ranges and forms the eastern boundary of the Barossa region. Although the best chardonnays now come from further south on the ranges, in the cooler Adelaide Hills, Heggies Eden Valley vineyard consistently produces an exciting chardonnay at a fair price. … Continue reading Wine review – Heggies, Larry Cherubino and Wirra Wirra →

Skillogalee Trevarrick Single Contour Riesling 2012 $52.50 Skillogalee vineyard, Sevenhill, Clare Valley, South Australia Each vintage, Skillogalee’s Dave Palmer makes a number of individual rieslings from various vineyard blocks. Most end up in the blending vat and go to market as the estate riesling. In the exceptional 2012 vintage, however, Palmer bottled a small parcel … Continue reading Wine review – Skillogallee, Ulithorne, All Saints, Peter Lehmann, Domaine Chandon and Lake Breeze →

Parish Vineyard Riesling 2013 $25–$29 Parish vineyard, Coal River Valley, Tasmania In 2012 Yalumba proprietor, Robert Hill-Smith, bought Frogmore Creek vineyard in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley. “Hiding among the rather large plantings of chardonnay and pinot noir”, writes winemaker Louisa Rose, “was an irresistible temptation to work with” – a three-hectare block of riesling, the … Continue reading Wine review – Parish Vineyard, Shotfire, Logan, Stoneleigh, Peter Lehmann and Bodegas Castro Martin →